Deputies: Two UWSP students die in motorcycle crash

PORTAGE COUNTY (WAOW) – Authorities say two UW-Stevens Point seniors died in a Portage County motorcycle crash Monday afternoon. Portage County Sheriff's Department officials say Alexander Reeder, 21, of Wisconsin Rapids and Katherine Axlen, 20, of Mukwonago were killed in the crash. They say Reeder was driving the motorcycle.

The crash happened just before 5:00 p.m. in the Town of Linwood near Stevens Point on State Highway 66 and County Highway PP. Lanes were blocked in both directions for more than two hours.

Authorities say a minivan driven by a 41-year-old woman was trying to turn into a driveway, when she turned into the path of a motorcycle. They say the motorcycle hit the minivan and both the driver and passenger were thrown from the motorcycle. Deputies both Reeder and Axlen died in the crash, but that both were wearing helmets.

“A westbound passenger car had failed to yield the right away to the eastbound motorcycle,” said Portage County Sheriff's Lt. Michael Morgan. “The passenger car would've been making a turn into a private driveway.”

Sheriff's officials say the minivan driver and her 11-year-old son were not hurt in the crash. Authorities say alcohol is not a suspected factor in the crash. This is the first fatal crash this year in Portage County, according to officials.

Deputies are reminding people that warmer weather means motorcyclists will be out more often and that drivers should be “extra vigilant.”